Maharashtra Ties Up with Mercedes Benz for Road Safety
The Maharashtra government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mercedes-Benz India for a large-scale road safety initiative targeting the 701-km-long Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway.
The project, launched in collaboration with the SaveLife Foundation and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), aims to reduce traffic fatalities through a multi-pronged approach. Unveiled in March 2024, the “Zero Death Highway” (ZFC) programme is part of Mercedes-Benz India’s corporate social responsibility efforts and will be implemented until 2026. The initiative is based on the “Four Es” of road safety—Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Care, and Education—and is already showing measurable impact. According to the Maharashtra government, deaths on the expressway have decreased by 29 percent within a year—falling from 151 in 2023 to 107 in 2024. Critical analysis under the initiative revealed that 39 percent of these fatalities occurred on just 17 percent of the highway stretch. In response, high-fatality zones (HFZs) have been prioritised for corrective action.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the partnership, calling it a national model for road safety. “About 10 lakh vehicles ply this expressway daily. Ensuring safety on such a vital route is a matter of utmost importance,” he said. “The successful implementation here opens the door for replication on other high-risk roads across Maharashtra.” The Samruddhi Mahamarg is one of the state’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, connecting Nagpur to Mumbai across ten districts. The expressway has been opened in phases since December 2022. The final 76 km stretch between Igatpuri and Amne is set to be operational soon, completing the 701 km corridor designed to boost commerce, tourism, and daily travel. Mercedes-Benz India’s involvement reflects its longstanding commitment to automotive safety. “As a responsible corporate citizen, we are proud to contribute to this transformative initiative that seeks to eliminate deaths on one of India’s busiest highways,” the company said in a statement.
The project has involved seven multi-agency consultation meetings with MSRDC, the police, and health departments. Safety audits, signage enhancements, emergency service coordination, and awareness campaigns are all being intensified as part of the ongoing programme. With real-time data analysis and on-ground interventions, the Maharashtra-Mercedes collaboration is being viewed as a potentially scalable model for nationwide road safety reform.
